Computer Build Advice

[dmr11wv]

APPROXIMATE PURCHASE DATE: 2/1/10 BUDGET RANGE: ~$600 - $700 (or less) After Rebates

SYSTEM USAGE FROM MOST TO LEAST IMPORTANT: gaming, all-around home PC

PARTS NOT REQUIRED: keyboard, mouse, monitor (19"), wireless card, sound card

PREFERRED WEBSITE(S) FOR PARTS: newegg.com, directron.com COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: USA

PARTS PREFERENCES: modest and relatively quiet mid-tower case

OVERCLOCKING: doubtful SLI OR CROSSFIRE: Maybe (future)

MONITOR RESOLUTION: 1280 x 1024 or 1600 x 1200

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS:

I am looking for advice on whether the build will be a good one for existing games such as LotRO and EVE as well as new games coming out such as Star Trek Online and Mass Effect 2.

Questions I have: Is everything compatible? Is there anything in the build that is too much or not enough for the intended system usage?

Build ($636.00 after rebates, etc.):

AMD Athlon II X3 435 Rana 2.9GHz 2000MHz Socket AM3 Tri-Core 45nm Processor, Model: ADX435WFGIBOX
http://www.directron.com/adx435wfgibox.html

GIGABYTE GA-MA770T-UD3P AM3 AMD 770 ATX AMD Motherboard - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128392

G.SKILL 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 (PC3 10666) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model F3-10666CL8D-4GBHK - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231189

SAPPHIRE 100245HDMI Radeon HD 4850 512MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFireX Support Video Card - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102824

or the 1GB version: POWERCOLOR AX4850 1GBD3-PH Radeon HD 4850 1GB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFireX Support Video Card - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814131163&Tpk=hd%204850%201gb


WD Caviar Black 3.5in 640GB SATA 3.0Gb/s Internal Hard Drive, 32MB Cache, 7200 RPM, Model: WD6401AALS. OEM
http://www.directron.com/wd6401aals.html

Black Sony Optiarc 24X SATA DVD Burner, 8X DVD+RW, 6X DVD-RW, 12X DVD+/-R DL, 12X DVD-RAM, Model: AD-7240S-0B. OEM
http://www.directron.com/ad7240s0b.html

Cooler Master RR-910-HTX3-GP Hyper TX3 CPU Cooler, for Intel LGA 1156/775 and AMD 754/939/940/AM2/AM3 CPUs
http://www.directron.com/rr910htx3gp.html

Black CoolMax VL Series 600W ATX 12V V2.3 Computer Power Supply VL-600B, Supports SATA and PCI-E, w/ 140mm Blue LED Fan
http://www.directron.com/vl600b.html

Black Apex Gaming Series Vortex3620 ATX Mid Tower Computer Case, 3 x 5.25in Bays, w/ 120mm Fans
http://www.directron.com/vortex3620.html

Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit 1-Pack for System Builders - OEM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16832116754

 

[gkay09]

^ That is a good setup...
Some suggestions... Mainly the PSU...

1. PSU + HDD- Never skimp on the PSU...get a quality one that will last long...
The Samsung F3s are the newer HDDs, that are more efficient and slightly better than the WD Blacks...
OCZ 600 + Samsung F3 500GB
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.323089

2. RAM - Cheaper and is equally good...
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231277

3. A more powerful card like HD 5770...DirectX 11...
Powercolor HD 5770
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814131327
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.320610

4. A OS + Mobo combo to save $10
ASUS 770 + WIN 7
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.316004

5. CPU cooler - Cheaper here at newegg...
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835103064

If you want better cooling performance
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835103065

 

[blackjellognomes]

This is a well-balanced build. The 512MB 4850 will be fine for that res.
As far as hard drives go, I would suggest this. Or if it goes out of stock (which happens rather frequently), this. That WD is no longer recommended with these newer, faster, single-platter drives out.
Also the newer version of that RAM, same price.
And lastly, I would go for a better quality PSU. You don't want that to crap out on you. Try Corsair, OCZ, Seasonic, PC Power & Cooling, or Antec.
Good luck with your build.

 

[blackjellognomes]

^ That is a good setup...
Some suggestions... Mainly the PSU...

1. PSU + HDD- Never skimp on the PSU...get a quality one that will last long...
The Samsung F3s are the newer HDDs, that are more efficient and slightly better than the WD Blacks...
OCZ 600 + Samsung F3 500GB
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.323089

2. RAM - Cheaper and is equally good...
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231277

3. A more powerful card like HD 5770...DirectX 11...
Powercolor HD 5770
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814131327
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.320610

4. A OS + Mobo combo to save $10
ASUS 770 + WIN 7
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.316004

5. CPU cooler - Cheaper here at newegg...
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835103064

If you want better cooling performance
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835103065

Ah, you're much faster than I am.
The 5770 is a great card, but it may be excessive for that resolution (and budget). A 5750 would be more appropriate if dmr11wv wants a newer 5xxx GPU.

 

[gkay09]

^ Yes even the 5750 is fine but it is not much faster than the 4850...and also the OP had given one of the resolutions as 1600 x 1200, for which the HD 5770 would suit better...
And also the board has just 1 PCIe x16 slot so going with the single faster card that would suit the resolution makes sense...

 

[dmr11wv]

Thanks for the input. With the savings from the combo deals and replacing my original build with gkay's suggestions the reduced cost leaves me plenty of room for a better graphics card. If I replace the HD 4850 with the 5770 card it would make my total approximately $645.00 (after rebates, combo deals, etc.) which is about where I want to be.

 

[dmr11wv]

Best answer selected by dmr11wv.